Media release - August 7, 2003
San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy, along with City Coucil members Donna Frye and Michael Zucchet, announced today a first-of-its-kind clean energy initiative to meet the city's growing electricity demand. Under this plan, San Diego will generate 50 Megawatts of clean energy over the next ten years to meet the region's projected energy shortfalls and stop another energy crisis. This is the first time a major U.S. city council has initiated a clean energy plan, as the solution to its energy needs.
"This renewable energy initiative shows what happens when
environmental groups, organized labor and city governments rally
around clean energy," said JP Ross, Greenpeace campaigner. "San
Diego is showing that cities across the nation can follow its lead
and take control of their energy future."
San Diego's historic decision is the latest example of how major
California institutions are quickly becoming a driving force in the
emerging clean energy economy, both within the state and
nationally. Examples of clean energy initiatives include:
- In November 2001, San Francisco voters passed Proposition B, a
$100 million revenue bond to finance 10 Megawatts of clean energy
and energy efficiency measures for city buildings, as well as
proposition H, a 50 MW solar utility for the City of San
Francisco.
- In June 2002, the Los Angeles Community College District passed
a policy to power all new buildings with 20-25 percent clean energy
from on-site solar power and utility purchases.
- Last month, the University of California passed the country's
most comprehensive college clean energy policy that will increase
grid-connected solar systems in the U.S. by around 20 percent and
create enough new clean energy to power 36,000 homes.
Coinciding with today's announcement
Greenpeace released, "Endless Power: San Diego's Roadmap for a
Clean Energy Future," a new report written with Power Shift and the
Solar Community Campaign. The report outlines the many financing
options available to San Diego, as well as the job and
environmental benefits expected from this initiative. The report
also illustrates the economic benefits of the city�s goal, as the
initiative will create over 1,240 jobs, 373 of which will be local.
Furthermore, more than 70 million pounds of carbon dioxide will be
kept out of the atmosphere - the equivalent of pulling more than
7,000 cars off the road, reducing San Diego's global warming
pollution.